8

My body goes still. They’re…leaving? I cast a glance at the table, and, as if knowing I’d look at them, Viktor meets my gaze with his unwelcoming one. Neither he nor the captain told me that they were leaving. A weird sensation tightens in my chest, and I want to tap it, but I don’t do that in public. I place my spoon on the table, suddenly losing my appetite. It’s not that I can’t continue this pace on my own. With time, I can be strong enough to challenge Matvey and beat him. But something’s different when the captain’s not around. Yes, he’s harsh, unforgiving, and has a mysterious way of destabilizing me, but all of that pales in comparison to how he’s pushed me to grow into my strength. He invested his time and teaching abilities in me—something no one but my family has ever done. And now that he’s leaving, I have no clue what to do. If only I could be at that black table. They’re so lucky to have him as a captain. Ours doesn’t give a fuck about us on an individual level. All he ca